Conveyer system



Jan. 10, 1928.

J. E. REGAN CONVEYER SYSTEM Filed April 9. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1,655,476 J. E. REGAN CONVEYER SYSTEM Jan. 10, 1928.

Filed April 9, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1, w r I 42 501%; um

Patented- 'Jan. 10, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN E. REGAN, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE LAMSON COMPANY, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

CONVEYEB SYSTEM;

Application filed April 9, 1927. Serial 1m. 182,412.

This invention relates to certain new and "useful improvements in conveyer systems.

The invention pertains more specifically to an automatic means for-selectively divertihg carriers from a main track into any one of a number of other tracks, and the'main object of the invention is to provide for a substantial increase in the number of selector devices whereby a corresponding increase in the number of main tracks and branch tracks leadin therefrom may be efiected.

More speci cally the invention resides in a novel tab mechanism-tor actuating a switch or deflectorbar to deflect a carrier or carriers onto a branch track, and in which the tab is moved in one direction by a pre-determined actuating means to actuate the switch, and a portion of the tab is moved in a diilerent direction by one or more-actuating means of a different height to permit the passage of such last-named actuating means without actuating the switch or deflee-tor bar.

Other objects and advantages relate to the details of the structure and the form and relation of the parts thereof, all as will more fully appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a conveyer system embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevation of a portion of the conveyer system shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an elevation of the tab of this invention.

Figure 4 is a section on ure\3.

Figure 5 'ure 4:.

Figure 6'is an elevation of a latch mechanism and its releasing means. v

The apparatus here illustrated as an embodiment of the invention comprises a main track having side rails 1 and -'2, such rails being provided with series of journals 3 for the reception of the axles of rollers Resting upon the several rollers is line 4 4,- Figis a section on-line 5-5, Figthe upper run of an endless belt 5- the.

lower run of which is not illustrated. Such belt may be driven from any suitable source of power and in any suitable and well known manner. a I

Diverging from the main track is a second track comprising the side rails 6' f and 7 having journal openings for the axles 8 of a series of rollers -9--. This second or branch track may or may not- 'be provided with an endless belt, as desired, and is here illustrated as not provided with power-driven impelling means and represents, for instance, the upperend of adownwardly inclined gravity conveyer track.

deflected by the action of the switch-bar At a point adjacent the juncture of the branch track with the main track there is I provided a'pair of upright posts 12-- p0- sitioned upon op osite sides of the main track and secure rails 1-- and 2--. These posts extend some distance above the main track and are provided .with brackets 13 in whichthe transversely extending rock-shaft 14-. s journaled. The rock-shaft 14- is pos1- tioned some distance above the main track so as to be out of the path of movement of the carrier's moving along the track and the; rocking movement of the shaft 14 is designed to-actuate the switch or deflecting bar 11. This deflecting bar -11- is shown in its normal position in full lines (Figure 1) and is out of the path of movement of carriers passing along the main track, and ,for the purpose of shifting the. switch-bar to a position diagonally, across the main track, the shaft 14- is (provided with a crank-arm -15 connecte by link -16- to another crank-arm -17 secured respectively to the side to shaft 18-. journaled in bearings upon' tudinal frame bar -23-.

The switch or deflecting bar -11- is secured to the rock shaft 21- in any suit able manner, and at a point preferably slightly above the upper run of belt 5. A brace bar 2-t is secured to the upper end of shaft '21- and has its other end connected to the deflecting bar'11 near the outer end of the latter. Spring means is preferably rovided for maintaining the deflecting bar in the position shown in Fig ure 1 with its end portion in contact with the stop 25 and for the purpose of illustration there is hereshown spring 26 connected to a bracket on the side-rail -1- and to the end of the rock-arm 2().

Suitable mechanism is provided for rock ing the shaft 14- to shift the switch or deflecting bar 11 to the position shown in dotted lines (Figure 1) diagonally of and across the main track, and the deflecting bar maybe temporarily held in this position by a latch mechanism 27 of any suitable and well known construction, and released in any suitable and well known manner, as for instance by the passage of a carrier over an actuating bar 28 disposed in the path of movement of a carrier moving along the branch track.

This actuating lever -.28 is mounted on a rock shaft journaled in the side rails -6 and -7 and whenever a earrier rests on the lever 28, the shaft is rocked, in turn rocking arm 81 connected by a link 82- to a rock arm 83 on shaft -84-which in turn rocks arm on shaft 84 to draw the latch 27 downwardly against the action of spring 87, thereby releasing deflecting bar 11 which returns to normal position, and the deflecting bar will not again be latched in its carrier-deflecting position until the carrier moves from contact with the lever 28 so that when a branch track is full no further carriers will be directed into it.

As stated, when the deflecting bar --llis released by the latch mechanism 26 it is returned to the normal position shown in full lines (Figure 1) by spring -2G to permit the free passage of carriers along the main track.

The tab mechanism of this invention com-- prises a two-part lever -30, the portions shaft --14 and formed with depending spaced jaws 3Q and -3E3 provided with aligned openings for the reception of a shaft 34 upon which the upper end of the other section 35 is pivotally mounted. The upper end of the section --35- fits within the space between the jaws 3.i and 33 and is formed at one side with a stop flange -36 adapted to contact with the bearing portion 13 to prevent rocking movement of the lower section -35 in one direction beyond a pre-determined line which in this instance is substantially vertical.

The lower end of the section -35 is formed in this instance with a depending rearwardly offset leg 96 having an opening for the reception of a stem 37 which lies at substantially right angles to the rock-shaft -14. The stem 37 is slidably mounted in the opening in the leg 96 and is held from sliding movement in one direction by pin -'38 extending through the stem and adapted to contact with a washer 39- which in turn contacts with the rear side of the leg 96. The stem 37 upon the opposite side of the leg 96 is formed with a contact disk or head 40 normally held spaced from the leg by spring 41 interposed between the head -40 and the adjacent side of the leg 96.

Above the head --40- and preferably forwardly thereof, the lever section 35- is formed with a forwardly extending projection 4l provided with a cam surface -42 inclined with respect to the axis of the rock-shaft -l4 and also with respect to the axis of the shaft 34r so that any contact pins or actuating members for the lever which extend upwardly along the cam surface 42 will ride along said surface and swing the lower section 35 of the lever laterally of the conveyer, and in a direction substantially parallel with the axis of the rock shaft 14- to permit the passsage of such pin without rocking the entire lever includin the bearing section -31 whereby the s iaft 14 would be rocked and the deflecting bar actuated.

In this particular disclosure there is shown in dotted lineSKIiigure 4) the forward end -44 of a carrier or box-like structure adapted to be conveyed b the conveyor sys-- tem and the forward en of this conveyor, as shown in Figure 1, is provided with three transverse rows of sockets -15, 46-- and 47 of different depth and in which transverse rows of pins 48- are adapted to be inserted. A pin 48 in the socket -45 projects above the uppersurface of the carrier a distance somewhat greater than a pin 48 in a socket 46, and in a sim ilar manner a pin 48 in a socket -46 projects above the upper surface of the carrier a distance somewhat greater than a pin 48 in a socket -47--.

In the structure shown in Figure 4 the tab mechanism is adapted to be actuated by a pin 48 in a socket -47 to rock the shaft 14. by contact of the pin with the contact disk 40 and pins i8 in either the sockets 45 or 46-in the same line lengthwise of the carrier will strike the cam surface 42 and swing the lower section 35- of the lever 30- laterally of the conveyer and in .a direction substantially )arallel with the axis of the rock shaft 14 to permit the passage of such pin or pins without rocking the entire lever and therefore without rocking the shaft 14- and without actuating the deflecting mechanism.

The tab mechanism to be operated by a pin -48* in a socket 46 would be of the same construction as that shown in Fig ure fl and which latter tab mechanism is actuated for operating the switch by contact with a pin 48 in a socket 47-, but in th'ecase of a tab mechanism to be operated by a pin -48- in a socket 46, the tab .to the greatest elevation above the carriers need not be 'of the construction shown in Figure fl but may be single levers rigidly connected to the shaft 14 and depending a suflicient distance for contact with the upper end of a pin 18- and a socket 45-. a I

' In the construction here shown, three rows of sockets are shown aligned transversely of the carrier for the reception of the selectmay be utilized; Prefera formed of the same length, and as illus-' ing pins, and the pins of each row are disposed lengthwise of the carrier in line with pins of other rows, and in this illustration where three rows of sockets are used it will be apparent that three pins, one in each row, may be placed in alignment with a single tab mechanism for actuating a predetermined tab, or for rendering other tabsinoperative, dependent upon the height of the pins.

f As a general rule in operation each carrier will bdprovidcd with a single pin to movea particular tab mechanism to actuate a' pro-determined switch or deflectim bar. Howeverfin some cases a plurality 0? pins 1y allpins are trated in Figure 3, are used in connection with sockets of different depths formed in the front end of the carrier, and for illustrative'purppses the socketjs 45- are of less depth than the sockets -46 and the sockets 46 are in turn of less depth than the sockets i7, but it ispossible to accomplish the objects of this invention by utilizing sockets of the same-or substantially the same depth in connection with pins of d'ifi'erent lengths.

From the above description it will be apparent that a desired number of transverse rows of sockets may be formed in a single carrier for use in connection with pins adapted to terminate at different elevations above the carrier, and that the deflecting mechanism will be actuated only by a pin of a proper height to strike the head on disk 40 to thereby bodily move the entire tab, and that the deflectin r mechanism will not be actuated by pins 0 a height to strike the inclined surface 42 whereby section 35 will be shifted or swung laterally, nor will it be actuated by pins of a height to pass underneath the lever 30-, and by reason of this construction, and arrangement of parts which permits the use of a plurality of rows of sockets for receiving selecting pins, a greatly increased capacity of apparatus may be produced in which independent selective means is provided for determining the particular track onto which a carrier is deflected.

In the drawing I have illustrated a single main track and one branch leading therefrom, and a single switch and switch-opcrating mechanism. However, it will be understood that any number of main tracks may be utilized, and that any number of branch tracks may lead from each main track within the capacity of the sockets provided for the reception of selecting pins, and that at each branch track a tab mechanism similar 'to that shown in Figure 4 is provided which depends above the track the proper distance to be actuated either with' or without actuating the deflecting'bar in accordance .with the height of the particular pin which contacts with the tab mechanism.

For that reason this invention broadly contemplates a plurality of tab mechanisms terminating in diflerent elevations above the track combined with a plurality of selecting devices also terminating at different elevations above the track to correspond with the points of termination of respective tabs so that certain pins of certain heights will pass underneath the tab, certain pins of a different height will actuate the tab to operate the switch mechanism, and certain pins of a still difierent height will shift or swing the lower sectionof the tab mechanism laterally out of the path of movement of the pin or pins without operating the switch mechanism. I

A spring ;60 is provided connected to t e l wer sec ion +35 e e er -3Q- a d to the bearingsection 31- of the lever 30 for returnin the section 35- to a vertical position after each swinging movement, and to normally maintain the section 35, in vertical position in line with a pre-determined longltudinally extending row of sockets in the carrier for receiving selecting pins.

And altho I- have shown and described a specific construction of apparatus and particular. details of form and arrangement of the parts thereof as constituting an embodiment of the invention, I do not desire to restrict myself to the same as various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim 1. In a device of the class described, in

combination, a, deflecting mechanism, actuating members of varying heights disposed to engage a portion of such mechanism, means whereby an actuating member of a given height upon engagement will operate said mechanism, and means whereby an actuating member of a difl'erent height will upon engagement with said mechanism shift a portion of said mechanism laterally to permit the passage of said member without actuating the mechanism.

2. In a device-of the class described, in combination, a deflecting mechanism, actuating members of varying heights disposed to engage said mechanism successively, and means whereby an actuating member of predetermined height upon engagement with said mechanism will shift a portion of said mechanism in a direction angularly disposed with respect to the path of movement of the member to permit the member to pass without actuating .the mechanism.

3. In a. conveyer system, a conveying means, cars carrying selecting members of varying heights, a deflecting mechanism, means whereby such mechanism will be made operative when engaged b pins of a given height, and means where y pins of other heights upon engagement with said mechanism will shift the engaged portion an angle to and out of the path of movement of a pin of a different height by contact of a pin therewith.

5. A conveyer system comprising a'carrier having a plurality of transverse rows of selecting pin sockets adapted for supportnism and having a portion shifted laterally by a pin of a different height independently of the deflecting mechanism.

6. In a device of the class described, a deflecting mechanism, a plurality of actuating members successively engaging said mechanism and means whereby certain actuating members by contact therewith shift a portion of said mechanism angularly out of the path of movement of said members to p er-c mit the passage of said members without actuating the deflecting mechanism.'

7. A conveyer system including a track. a deflecting mechanism, a plurality of tabs depending above the track and terminating at different elevations above the track, carriers having selecting members terminating at different elevations above the track for actuating different tab mechanisms to operate respective switches and adapted to shift portions of other'tab mechanisms at an angle to the path of movement of the selecting members to permit free passage of said members without actuating the deflecting mechanism. I

8. A conveyer system comprising a main track; a branch track, a deflecting bar, a rock shaft for actuating the deflecting bar, a tab mounted on the rock shaft, said tab including two sections movably connected together, one of said'sections being secured to the shaft for effecting a rocking movement of the latter and the other section capable of independent movementat an'angle with the rocking movement of the first section.

9. A conveyer system comprising a mam track, a branch track, a deflectingbar, a rock shaft for actuating the deflecting bar, a tab mounted on the rock shaft, said tab including two sections, movably connected together, one of said sections being secured l to the shaft for effecting a rocking movement of the latter and the other section capable of independent movement in a direction substantially parallel with theaxis of I the rock shaft.

10. A conveyer system comprising a main track, a branch track, a deflecting bar, .a rock shaft for actuating the deflecting bar, a tab mountedon the rock shaft, said tab including two sections movably connected 1 together. one of said sections being secured to the shaft for effecting a rocking movement of the latter and the other section capable of independent movement about a pivotal axis at substantially right angles to the including two sections movably connected together, one of said sections being secured to the shaft for effecting rocking movement of the latter and the other section capable of independentmovement at an angle with the rocking movement of the first section, and means for returning the second section to normal position'after each independent movement.

12. A conveyer-system comprising a main track, a branch track, a deflecting bar, a rock shaft for actuating the deflecting bar, a tab mounted on the rock shaft, sald tab including two sections movably connected together, one of said sections being secured to the shaft for effecting a rocking movement of the latter and the other section capable of independent movement about a pivotal axis at. substantially right angles to the axis of the rock shaft, and means for returning the second section to normal position after each independent movement.

13., A conveyer system comprising deflect ing mechanism including a rock shaft, a ta mechanism mounted upon the rock shaft for effecting rocking movement of said shaft,

said tab mechanism comprising two sectionspivotally connected together on an axis at substantially right angles to the axis of the rock shaft.

14. A conveyer system comprising adeflecting mechanism including a rock shaft, a tab mounted on the rock shaft and adapted to effect rocking movement of the shaft, said tab mechanism including an upper and a lower section pivotally connected together and the lower section formed with an inclined surface. I

15. A conveyer system comprising a deflecting mechanism including a rock shaft, a tab mounted on the rock shaft and adapted to effect rocking movement of the shaft, said tab mechanism including an upper and a lower section pivotally connected together and the lower section formed with an in-.

clined surface, and a contact inember car ried by the lower section and positioned 17. A conveyer system including a track,

a deflecting mechanism including a rock shaft, a carrier adapted to move'in said systcmand adapted to be provided with selecting members terminating at different elevations above thecarrier, a tab mechanism secured to the .r-ockshaft and including a portion shifted laterally by contact therewith of pins of a pro-determined height, andincluding another portion adapted for contact with'selecting members of a different height whereby the tab mechanism is ate the deflecting mechanism.

18. In a conveyer systema tab mechanism mounted for movement as a whole about a fixed axis and including two parts movably secured together, one of which is capable of movement independently of the other in a direction substantially parallel with the fixed axis. a

19. In a conveyer system a tab mechanism mounted for movement as a whole about a fixed axis and including two parts pivotally secured together upon an axis disposed at substantially right angles to the said fixed axis, one of which is capable of movement independently of the other in a direction substantially parallel with the fixed axis.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this th day of March, 1927.

JOHN E. REGAN.

moved as a whole to rock the shaft and actu- 

